114 The Scottish Naturalist. 



little Chiff-Chaff {P. rufa, Bonap.), has never been noticed, that 

 I am aware of, in any part of the district. Though bearing the 

 strongest family likeness to the above, its striking difference of 

 note, were it present, would at once distinguish it.^ 



50. Phyllopneuste sibilatrix, Bonap. (Wood- Wren.) 



Though far more sparingly distributed than the Willow- Wren, 

 the Wood-Wren may be considered to be more local than un- 

 common, confining itself to certain woods and copses of its 

 choice. Without being familiar with its peculiar note or song, 

 which assumes two distinct forms, with a ventriloquising effect, 

 quite sufficient to mislead the uninitiated, and make him suppose 

 that it proceeded from two different birds on two different trees, 

 it would not be easy of detection, and it may thus often escape 

 observation. It is very frequent at Moncreiffe, and some other 

 places in the lower section of the district. In the woods about 

 Dunkeld Mr Brooke tells me it is common, and I have observed 

 it more than once in Faskally. There is no notice of it further 

 up, but it may possibly extend still higher, and also be found to 

 occupy many other parts both in Strathearn and Strathtay. 



51, Regulus CRISTATUS, Ray. (Gold-Crest.) 



Resident and common throughout the whole district, frequent- 

 ing in the autumn and winter months Spruce and Fir plantations, 

 broomy knowes, &c., in company with the whole fraternity of 

 Tits and Creepers. It is then often largely augmented by birds 

 from the Continent : these, however, return in spring ; at which 

 season, and during the summer, so quiet and unobtrusive is 

 the little Gold-Crest, that were it not for the beautiful pensile 

 nest attached to the extremity of some slender branch of the 

 old Yew next the house, which attracts our attention, we might 



^ Since writing the above, Mr William Horn, who has devoted some time 

 to the birds of the northern and western part of the district, has drawn my 

 attention to the occurrence of the Chiff-Chaff in Rannoch, as mentioned in 

 llie ' Zooloi^ist,' 1S71, p. 2656. I can scarcely, however, look upon its being 

 found in Rannoch as anything more than merely accidental, for having tra- 

 versed nearly eveiy part of it both before and since the date mentioned, it 

 has never come under my notice. Moreover, were it otherwise, it would be 

 a singular fact that a tender bird like the Chiff-Chaff should pass over the 

 warm sheltered woods and shrubberies of Moncreiffe, a very paradise for 

 birds such as the present, as also the extensive orchards of the Carse of Cowrie 

 and other tempting spots, where, to my knowledge, it has never yet been 

 found, to the colder and more remote parts in Rannoch. — II. M. D. H. 



